Collapsible vehicle.



G. B. AMBLER;

COLLAPSIBLE VEHICLE.

APPLICATION men JUNE 12. 1914.

' Patented Feb. 6,19171;

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COLLAPSIBLE VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, m4.

1 ,21 5,303. Patented Feb; 6, 1917.

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G. B. AMBLER.

COLLAPSIBLE VEHICLE.

APPLICATlON FILED JUNE 12. 1914.

atented Feb. 6,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 Inventor. 6'80? 'efl dmZzeif GEORGE IB. AMBLER, LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 F. A. WHITNEY CARRIAGE COMPANY, OF LEOIVIINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAS- SACHUSETTS.

COLLAPSIBLE VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

Application filed June 12, 1914. Serial 110,844,785.

whereby the vehicle may bereadily collapsed and erected and securely held in erected position.

The character of the invention may be best understood by reference to an illustrative embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical'longitudinal section through an illustrative vehicle shown herein as embodying the invention;

Fig; 2 is a rear elevation of the vehicle; Figs. 3 and 4 on an enlarged scale are sectional details of the vehicle as they appear when the latter is collapsed;

Fig. 5 shows they vehicle with the seat,

back and. foot-well removed to 'disclose'the parts beneath the same;

Figs. 6 and 7 on an enlarged scale are sectional details showing parts disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4: as they appear when the ve hicle is erected;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 88 ofand Fig. 10 is a rear elevation of the vehicle in collapsed position. 7

Referring to the drawings, the illustrative vehicle shown therein as embodying the invention is of the so-called collapsible gocart type and comprises a main body frame con sisting of side' members 1 and transverse members 3 connecting the same.

W'heel carriers 5 desirably in the form. of

tubes curved to present a pleasing design,v

are pivotally connected to front and rear brackets 7. '7 depending from the body frame, said carriers being adapted to fold transversely of the vehicle into collapsed relation beneath said frame.

Mechanical means is provided for folding the Wh l Q IiQ T to erected and. collapsed 9 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 1 showing the vehicle in collapsed position;

positions. To accomplish this each carrier is provided adjacent therear end thereof with a depending end 9 overlapping a bracket of the main frame and having a tappetfinger 11 (Figs. 2, 3, a, 6 and 7) with a short arniextending along close to the body frame; This raises the point of'its pivotal connection: with the controlling member 13 and brings the latter up in'an inconspicu ouspo'sition when the'vehicle is erected, thereby desirably contributing to the pleasing design of the vehicle.

The side bar, levers and controlling member together constitute a double rocking lever mechanisnn By this construction the controlling member. may swing rearwardly so as to engage the tap-pet finger and fold the wheel carryingmeans. As it is thus moved rearward the controlling member is moved upward toward the body frame and in so doing engages the tappet finger and thereby rocks the wheel carrier inward and upward toward the main frame from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in:Fig. 3 and holds the carrier in this position untilithe longitudinal motion controlling member is moved downward away from said frame.

The movement of the controlling member downwardis utilized to rock the wheel carrier to its erected position. To effect this the depending end 9 of the carrier is formed to present a notch 19 which is engaged by said member in its downward movementand.

thereby rocks the carrier downward and outward to its erected position.

The mechanism described for controlling the wheel carrier atone side of'the vehicle is substantially duplicated at the opposite side of the vehicle and the corresponding parts at both sides of the vehicle are designated by the same reference characters.

The controlling members for the wheel carriers may be automatically moved in the course of the collapsing of the vehicle. This 60 H which stands in a position to be moved about erected positions.

is effected through the instrumentality of handle bars 21, which are pivoted to the main frame adjacent the rear end thereof, and connections typefied herein as side arms 23 pivotally connected to said handle bars and pivotally connected to the upper ends of the front levers 17 referred to. When the handle bars are rocked forward, through the connections described, the controlling members will be moved longitudinally rearwardly and in so doing will engage the tappets of the wheel carriers and fold the latter up beneath the frame as described.

In order that the carriers may be folded without interference with one another the tappet for one of them (herein the left in Fig. 2) is slightly lower on the carrier than the tappet of the other and is slightly differently shaped. Consequently the tappets will be engaged successively by their controlling members and one will be rocked in advance of the other.

An important feature of the invention relates to simple and effective means for look ing the carriers in erected positions. To accomplish this each is provided with looking elements typefied herein as notched lugs 25 (Figs. 2, 3, i, 6, 7 and 8) projecting rearwardly from the depending end of the wheel carrier preferably at opposite sides of the point 27 of pivotal connection of the carrier with the main frame. A member of the erecting and collapsing mechanism de scribed may be utilized to cooperate with said lockingelements to hold the carriers in This member as shown herein is the rear lever 15, referred to, to

which the controlling member is pivotally connected. 'lVhen the controlling member is rocked downward away from the main frame the lever 15 is rocked toward a vertical position and enters the notches in said lugs (Fig. 1). In so doing it locks the wheelcarrier at two points, thereby securely and rigidly holding the carrier in erected position. The notches may have a slight flare to facilitate the entrance of said lever therein. The lever engages the upper notch which is nearest the point of pivotal connection of said lever with the main frame before it en that the controlling member and tappet may not have rocked the carrier quite to said position. There is a further advantage in having the notches flared in that it causes the lever to seat finally tightly therein and prevent any lost motion or rattling of parts.

To secure the parts in erected position the handle bars and side bars are connected by 1,215,.sos

toggle links 30, 30 which when straightened tend to force the handle bars contra-clockwise (Fig. l) andin so doing through the connections described press and hold the le vers 15 tightly into the notches of the I lugs 25.

As shown herein the levers l5 cooperating with the locking elements of the carriers at the opposite sides of the vehicle are connected by and integral with a horizontal member 81. -Thus the three present the form of a bail. This contributes to the preventing of lateral flexing of the levers and adds to the general rigidity of the construction. The bail form, however, is not indispensable since in some cases separate levers may be used if desired.

Another important feature of the construction here disclosed relates to the seat support. A seat 33 (Fig. 1) is positioned preferably substantially centrally over one of the transvu'se body frame members 3 referred to. To cushion the seat a pair of leaf springs 35, are secured intermediate their ends to said member and support a second pair of leaf springs 37, 37 secured to the under side of the seat. The two pairs of springs may be connected by coil springs 39 carried by bolt hangers e1 depending from the lower leaf springs. The upper leaf springs have inturned ends 43 which rest on said coil springs. This spring arrangement provides a highly desirable yielding support for the seat, effectively relieving the latter of are. While the lower set of springs is secured fast to said transverse member the arrangement is such that through the flexibility of the springs the seat is susceptible of a yieldin rocking movement about said member as a fulcrum, thereby permitting the seat automatically yieldingly to rock and adjust itself to comfortably conform to the position of the occupant of the vehicle.

A back s5 is hinged to and carried by the seat and supported in different positions of adjustment by a bail 47 connected to the rear ends of the upper set of springs and adapted to engage differentstops 49, 51 on the back of the seat according to the inclination of the latter desired.

The arms referred to may be provided with appropriate curtains 53, 53 depending therefrom.

A foot-well may be flexibly connected to the seat at one end and to a bail 56 at its opposite end, said bail being pivoted to the side frames 1, 1 and adjusted to conform to erect and recumbent positions of the occupant of the vehicle by toggle links 57.

The longitudinally movable controlling member acting on the tappet and wheel carrier is a highly desirable mechanism for rocking the latter to collapsed and erect positions. By the notched lugs on the carrier there is provided an extremely simple and desirable erecting mechanism with ,a high degree of mechanical advantage to lock the carrier securely and rigidly in erect position. .The operating mechanism for erecting, collapsing and securing the carrier in erected position is located at the sides of the vehicle leaving an ample space between the side frames for receiving the yieldingly tilting seat without interference therewith.

Having described one illustrative embodiment of the invention Without limiting the same thereto, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A vehicle comprising in combination, a body frame, a wheel carrier therefor foldable into collapsed -and erected positions, means for folding said carrier including a controlling member extending longitudinally of said frame, members pivotally connecting said controlling member to said frame, means on said carrier cooperating with said controlling member for folding the wheel carrier, and locking elements on said carrier, one of said connecting members being movable into locking engagement with said elements to secure the carrier in erected position.

2. A vehicle comprising in combination, a body frame, a wheel carrier therefor foldable into collapsed and erected positions, a tappet on saidcarrier, means including a bar movable longitudinally of the vehicle for engaging said tappet to fold said carrier transversely of the vehicle, locking elements on said carrier, and a member carried by said frame movable by said bar into locking engagement with said elements to hold said carrier in erected position.

3. A vehicle comprising in combination, a body frame, a wheel carrier therefor foldable transversely of the vehicle, locking elements on said carrier, a bar cooperating with said carrier to fold the latter into erected position, a member pivotally connected to said frame and bar for locking engagement with said elements, handle bars, connections therefrom to said carrier folding bar for actuating the latter by the former, and means for holding said handle bars in erected position.

4. A vehicle comprising in combination, a body frame, a wheel carrier therefor foldable transversely of the vehicle, locking elements on said carrier, a bar cooperating with said carrier to fold the latter into erected position, a member pivotally connected to said frame and bar for locking engagement with said elements, handle bars,

connections therefrom to said carrier folding bar for actuating the latter by the former, and toggle lever means for holding said handle bars in erected position.

5. A vehicle comprising in combination,

a body frame having side members 1, a bracket 7 rigid with each side membler, wheel carriers 5, each having a pair of locking elements 25 fast thereon, means pivotally connecting each carrier to its bracket, a

handle 21, and members 15 operated by said handle, each adapted for engagementwith a pair of said'elements to secure the carriers in erected positions.

6. A vehicle comprising, in combination, a

body frame, a wheel carrier pivoted thereto to swing about a longitudinal axis, said car rier having locking elements disposed at different locations relative to said axis, and

a locking member carried by said frame movable into engagement with said elements to hold the carrier erected with two-point support.

7. A vehicle comprising, in combination, a body frame, a wheel carrier pivoted thereto to swing about a longitudinal axis, said carrier having locking elements disposed at different locations relative to said axis, a movable handle bar, and means controlled thereby for actuating said carrier and com prising a member arranged to engage said elements tohold the carrier erected with two-point support.

8. A vehicle comprising, in combination, a body frame, a wheel carrier pivoted thereto to swing about a longitudinal axis, a movable handle bar, and means controlled thereby for actuating the carrier and comprising a member arranged for engagement with the carrier in its erected position, said parts being relatively constructed to interlock at points differently located with respect to the carrier axis whereby to hold the carrier erected.

9. A vehicle comprising, in combination, a body frame, a wheel carrier pivoted thereto to swing about a transverse axis, said carrier havin a locking element at either side of said axis, and a locking member carried by said frame and movable into engagement With said elements when the carrier is erected.

10. A vehicle comprising, in combination, a body frame, a wheel carrier pivoted thereto to swing about a transverse axis, a longitudinally reciprocable wiper bar, said car rier presenting opposed surfaces for cooperation with said bar in its movement to fold and toerect said wheel carrier, a locking device on said carrier, and a link controlled by controlled by said handle bars and having portions lying in different horizontal planes to permit camming action, said carrier presenting opposed surfaces for cooperation loo with said bar to fold and to erect said car-g rier, and a link controlled with said bar and interlocking with the carrier adjacent said surfaces on erection of the carrier.

12. A vehicle comprising, in combination,

a body frame, a wheel carrier pivoted thereto to swing about a transverse axis, handle bars, a longitudinally disposed wiper bar controlled by said handle bars and having portions lying in different horizontal planes to permit calnrning action, said carrier presenting opposed surfaces for cooperation Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

with said bar to fold and to erect said carrier, and a link controlled with said bar and interlocking with the carrier adjacent said surfaces at points at opposite sides of the axis ofthe carrier on erectio-n'thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Washington, D. C. 

